Winners of six in a row following a 65-51 dispatching of Waldron Friday, Eastern Hancock is on its longest winning streak since the 2010-11 unit won 11 in a row.

But, with two-time defending sectional champion and current 2A No. 11 Union County coming to Charlottesville tonight, EH coach Aaron Spaulding didn’t try to hide the importance of his group’s game against the 10-1 Patriots.

“It’s the best team we’ve played to date,” Spaulding said.

Friday night, the Royals (7-2, 3-1 Mid-Hoosier Conference) outscored the visiting Mohawks 43-16 in the first and third quarters. In the third frame, junior guard Cole Fout connected on a trio of 3-pointers and junior forward Derrik Noel scored eight of his career-high 22 points as the blue-and-white created separation after a 30-all halftime deadlock.

After scoring in the 60s once during an injury-marred 6-15 campaign last winter, a healthy Royal outfit — at least until Friday night — has now cracked the 60-point barrier in five of its nine games. Entering the contest, seven players were averaging at least five points per game.

This story appears in the print edition of Daily Reporter. Subscribers can read the entire story online by signing in here or in our e-Edition by clicking here.